Too bad marketing people have to muck everything up with "smart" lingo that can turn Einstein into an ignoramus due to BS terminology. If it uses a sine wave converter, just say so, if it uses a step converter, just say that. BS @ back-ups vs. smart.

How is a guy without a scope supposed to tell the diff when everything is masked by marketing lingo? I'm pretty sure the store clerk isn't going to be versed in the diff ... "Oh, this one's better because it cost more and they put more stuff in it." ... I can hear it now.

Too bad marketing people have to muck everything up with "smart" lingo that can turn Einstein into an ignoramus due to BS terminology. If it uses a sine wave converter, just say so, if it uses a step converter, just say that. BS @ back-ups vs. smart.

How is a guy without a scope supposed to tell the diff when everything is masked by marketing lingo? I'm pretty sure the store clerk isn't going to be versed in the diff ... "Oh, this one's better because it cost more and they put more stuff in it." ... I can hear it now. ...Show more →

Well, I guess the assumption is that you are plugging computers into them and the power supply in the computer will smooth out the power. They aren't expecting you to plug a studio flash into them but yeah, a sine wave should be a sine wave.

Even though the UPS units are half the cost of the vagabond, they are 3x the weight and size.

jzucker wrote:
Even though the UPS units are half the cost of the vagabond, they are 3x the weight and size.

Hence why people don't do it
cthew on this forum has done that w/ an APC SmartUPS (pure sine wave) w/o problems, but the weight/size makes it not useful for location shoots.
Get a VML per strobe and your back will be happier...

All the sine wave inverters I've seen on the market say "pure sine" somewhere on the product or in the specs. If it doesn't say "pure sine" it may well just fry your strobes.

There are a lot of them out there, but by the time you buy, wire, and package the components (battery, inverter, and battery charger) you will end up spending almost as much as a Vagabond II or a VML will cost you.

I'm not a good guage of a "day's shooting" ... I use them sporadically, so I've never exhausted one. I keep one in my truck as backup power for my cameras should I ever run out of juice and need to go on A/C while remote ... or for when I want to do some long exposure night work.

I've even used mine to run my cable modem / wireless router during power outages.

BUT, I can say they do a really good job @ holding a charge for a long period of time. Other than the awkward clamp scenario (I ordered mine on the very first day), I have really liked mine, even if I don't use them as much as others.

I wasn't referring specifically to photographic equipment ... there is other electronic gear that could be dependent upon a true sine wave signal ... and the labeling is misleading ... i.e. sine wave when it really isn't one. But, I don't recall any warnings that preclude it from being used @ photo gear (or other specifics) either.

Although, I guess it wouldn't matter too much if they would honor their guarantee @ $$$$$ for damaged gear. But ... if they were to try and wiggle out of their guarantee by saying you really needed to buy the true sine wave product ... that's where the suit would be viable @ the misleading labeling.

I just find it to be very misleading labeling regarding something that is fundamentally characteristic of the product.

jzucker wrote:
Even though the UPS units are half the cost of the vagabond, they are 3x the weight and size.
Besides the lead-acid cell, Smart-UPS has a transformer (big hunk of iron): this is used to normalize output during input brownouts and over-voltage conditions while remaining on mains power. Would be nice for outdoor photogs if that deadweight could be removed.